Thanks for the great reviews. :) Here's another chapter.

Rated: M

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them

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There You'll Be

Chapter Four

It was good to be back after all of these years.

Elizabeth hadn't been back to the cottage since her Grandfather passed away, mostly because the memories were still too painful. The laughter of her family as they sailed on the lake behind the house. Family cookouts, visiting the craft fairs with her grandfather. Sitting on the deck watching him concentrating as the sunset in the distance. It was the few happy moments her family had shared, when she wasn't feeling like an outsider. She was close to her Grams, but that was only recently after she had moved to Port Charles. Though Grams loved her, and she had never doubted that, their relationship had been based on a lot of push pull and rebellion that had a lot to do with her feelings about her older sister Sarah. Now that she was an adult, having moved past that rebellious attitude, a mother, their relationship was much closer.

Yet out of all of her family, there was one person she had been closest to, her Grandpa Steve. He was a respected doctor, chief of staff of GH and loving husband, father and grandfather. What many didn't know was that he was an artist as well, and that's where she had gotten her love from. It was a connection that she cherished and missed to this day. She missed those evenings he painted, imparting to her his love of art, its complexities and beauty. The cottage where she was headed sat on the outskirts of Brunswick Harbor, a town where many artists made their home. Grandpa told her once that in another life perhaps he had been one of those struggling artists who lived for his craft. It was why he loved Brunswick so much, had bought the summer cottage up here to spend private moments with his family outside of the hospital.

Since she had Cam, she had set aside her dreams of painting, knowing that she had to put the best interests of her son first, but that love never went away. The feel of a brush in her hand as she struggled to bring the picture in her head to life on canvas. Sometimes it was like fighting a battle, others it was a sweet as a gentle song, no matter which she had loved painting with her whole heart and it had been like amputating a limb when she set that dream aside. Her grandfather would have understood. There was only one other person who had.

Jason.

She shook her head, reminding herself that she had promised not to think about him for at least the first two weeks up here. She was barely two hundred yards from the cottage in her car with Cam sleeping in the back seat and already Jason was on her mind. It was difficult for him not to be. The night of the blackout had changed her life and Jason played a major role in the aftershocks. Yet she had decisions to make, and though she knew some of them would have to be discussed with Jason, she had to figure out her own mind first.

She pulled the car into the gravel driveway, turning off the ignition and just looked at the large structure through the windshield. The family called it a cottage, and technically it qualified, but tucked neatly into the hillside, concealed from prying eyes by gorgeous trees that extended majestically into the sky, the two story cottage was less rustic and more distinguished. Much like Steve and Audrey Hardy themselves.

"Cam honey, we're here," she looked over her headrest, and found her son sleep. Not surprising, since they had left Port Charles late in the evening and driven through the night to get here. Before leaving, she had terminated her lease on the small apartment, putting the things she wanted to keep in storage. It only made sense; there was no way she could live there. Not after everything that had happened in that apartment. The destruction of her marriage. Lucky's affair. Besides, she would need to move anyway because she would need more space for the new baby.

How on earth was she going to afford that?

She didn't want to depend on Jason, though she knew that he would offer to help take care of the baby. She didn't like the feeling of accepting money from him, though he had certainly helped her out before. Paying for Cam's daycare for the rest of the year, the outstanding bills he had taken care of, while she was grateful, she certainly didn't want to come off as some kind of gold digging leech out to take Jason for his money. It was pride, it was probably stupid, but then pride often led to stupidity.

When she returned to Port Charles, Grams had offered to let her stay with them until she found a new apartment but she knew that Grams was hoping that she would change her mind about the divorce. It was much too late for that. Though she understood Lucky was hurting, his addiction, finding out his wife had betrayed him with another man, that was no excuse for what he said about Cameron. It was no excuse for putting his hands on her. She would never be able to trust that he wasn't harboring hard feelings about her son, and the new baby, considering his animosity toward Jason, Lucky would never be able to accept this new baby. So a divorce was the best thing for everyone even if it hurt.

The day they married, she never would have expected things to end up this way. Maybe she hadn't paid enough attention to the real parts of marriage, not just the love and fun. The everyday things, like paying bills, honoring the marriage and not taking it for granted. She couldn't have anticipated Lucky's medical bills, or any of the rest, but maybe their foundation hadn't been strong enough to pull them through better or worse. Perhaps they had still been living on the dream of their teenage years and not on the relationship of two adults. Either way, it was over now and she had to deal.

Grabbing her purse off the passenger seat, she dug around inside for the keys Grams had given her, then opened the car door and stepped outside. Memories assailed her, as the scent of the crisp autumn air filled her lungs. Quietly, she shut the car door and leaned against it, a smile curving her lips for the first time in days. She closed her eyes and laid a hand over her abdomen, "I think this was a good idea," she murmured. Another reason she had left Port Charles. Her last two miscarriages wore heavily on her mind, the first , Ric's child lost as a result of Faith Roscoe pushing her down a flight of stairs, the second, the child she carried for Jax and Courtney that she had come to love so much, lost as a result of a car accident. All in Port Charles. All during the first trimester.

It was probably superstitious and merely coincidence but she wasn't taking any chances. There was still the chance something could go wrong, but she wasn't going back to Port Charles until she was firmly into her second trimester. After the first of the year. She wasn't subjecting this child to the stress of all of her friends and family demanding answers until she was certain this baby was strong enough to endure. Personally, she thought Jason's child was strong enough to endure anything, look at his father, but that may have just been her personal feelings, she thought with a mild chuckle.

She had an appointment with the doctor in town in two days, to have a check up and make sure that her files from Mercy were transferred over. She couldn't go to GH for an OB appointment, the news of her visit would have leaked and she would have been forced to deal with the fall out. Right now her wounds were still too raw. She especially couldn't handle Nikolas and Emily right now. They had been most vocal about her standing by Lucky through his recovery, though Nikolas had his doubts that Lucky was handling things as well as he pretended to be. She remembered Nikolas' reaction to her friendship with Jason before and it didn't bode well on his reaction this time around.

As for Emily, she would be supportive, but there would be all of those questions. Was she sure she and Lucky were finished? If they loved each other, they should stand by each other through the difficult times. Or better yet, suggest they get counseling.

Whatever the case, she would think about those things later, right now, she wanted to go inside, and rest after the long drive. Elizabeth crossed over to the other side of the car and opened the door, unsnapping Cam from his car seat and hoisting him onto her hip. He murmured in his sleep, snuggling into the crook of her shoulder but didn't wake, long accustomed to car to mommy to bed transfers. She couldn't wait to see his face when he saw the lake behind the house. He loved going down to the docks to see the boats in Port Charles, and though the lake would be empty of boats this time of year, he would still have the beautiful view.

Carefully she walked up the four porch steps, smiling at the porch swing which she promised herself to take full advantage of very soon, opened the door and stepped inside. Grams had called the caretaker and had him turn on the power and arrange to have the house cleaned for her, and everything looked almost like it did from their last visit. A large sofa, covered in dark brown twill looked a little outdated, but just as cozy and welcoming as it always had. It sat before the huge brick fireplace, with a mantel covered with various pictures of her family through the years.

The cottage had been originally built in 1945, and still retained its darkened pine paneling with a whisky colored stain on the oak floors. Windows opened up the room making it airy and bright. The result could have been very masculine, but her Grams had added feminine touches everywhere, antique table and floor lamps with soft red shades, a chaise over by the largest bay window covered in a delicate red and cream floral print. She would dig out the vases from storage, and later on she and Cam could go out in back and pick some of the wildflowers that grew along the side of the house. Hopefully they were still there as she remembered. Placed above the Victorian tables that matched the oak floors, over the fireplace and on other walls, were Grandpa Steve's paintings.

They ranged from a quiet study of a boat on the lake behind their house, to simplicity of a bowl of fruit, a glass of wine and a hunk of cheese being sliced by her Grams' hands.

She felt comforted here.

"Come on, lets get you upstairs," she took Cam up the short flight of stairs to the bedroom she and Sarah had shared when they were children. As she pushed open the door, she was greeted with the childish works she had insisted on hanging on the walls. Her grandfather had treated them all with respect and love, framing them all and hanging them up as though they were as good as his were. She laid Cam on the bottom bunk, taking the folded blanket at the foot of the bed and spreading it across him, before pressing a kiss to his cheek. Leaving the door open, she went to deal with the luggage, groceries and other things she left in the car. She wanted to be done by sunset. So that she could set up the easel and paints she had brought with her. She could only work with charcoal, or watercolors, because she didn't want to risk the fumes of working with any other types of paint, but she didn't mind, would in fact enjoy being immersed in her art again.

"Every time I went into a church, or museum, I would see an amazing painting and I would think of you."

Jason's words had reminded her of the joy she felt when she painted, and being here it seemed her Grandfather was giving his approval.

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"Thank you for coming to see me, Jason."

Jason lifted a shoulder nonchalantly, looking at the tired woman sitting up the hospital bed and felt a surge of sympathy. The disease had quickly taken its toll on Alexis; her face was pale and drawn, gaunt with dark circles beneath her eyes. She wore a green gown that matched the scarf she wore over her hair. Definitely not hospital issue, some soft and feminine, probably Sam's handiwork. Sonny had told him that the chemo had taken much of Alexis' hair and that Sam had gone out and bought Alexis a bag full of scarves in a rainbow of colors and different gowns to match to help make her feel a little better.

All the animosity he felt for the woman had disappeared over these months, as he realized, though they would never get along, never see eye to eye on anything, he could respect the courage she displayed as she battled the deadly disease that was slowly making war on her body.

"Kristina mentioned seeing you at Sonny's yesterday," her voice was almost a whisper, she adjusted the oxygen tube at her nose, then folded her hands neatly on her lap, telling him that she felt a little uncomfortable. He could tell she didn't like anyone seeing her vulnerable this way. He only hoped this wasn't going to be one of those stay away from Sam discussions that she often called him in for.

"Yeah, I was there." Was all he would answer.

"I need to ask you a favor," she tried to swallow and was stricken with a cough, it shook through her entire body, as she struggled to gain control. So he walked to the table and poured her a cup of water from the pitcher and held it for her, putting the straw in her mouth.

"Sip it slowly so you don't choke," he murmured, as her frail hands covered his, trembling. When she was done, and seemed to have better control, he set the cup down on the table and sat down in the chair next to her.

"Believe it or not," she smiled wryly, "I'm having a good day." She took another breath and he could almost hear her lungs struggling with the oxygen. "I didn't ask to see you for what you might think."

"Okay."

"I figure Sonny has gone back to the business now," she looked at him pointedly, "Don't bother denying it. Since he started therapy, I've noticed that he's changed, gotten stronger. Clearer. More focused. I knew it was a matter of time until he went back." She closed her eyes briefly, "Since this has all started, I've been forced to acknowledge that there are some things in life that I can't control."

Before he could ask about this heart to heart she was attempting, she continued, "Growing up in the Cassadine house, was like growing up in a pit of vipers. Especially Helena. Most of my life, I'd been told I was nothing, would never be anything but Meekos' bastard. Was always on guard for an attempt on my life from Helena or Stavros. They would have thought nothing of slitting my throat just like Helena did my mother. That's probably the reason why I was so hard on Sam. I thought she was wasting her life." She lifted a hand, and gestured, "That doesn't matter and not what I asked you here for. Sonny's return to the business means that Kristina and Molly's lives will be in danger again."

There was no need to deny or confirm that, they both knew in great agonizing detail what could happen to Sonny's children. After the kidnapping they were forced to acknowledge that no matter the security, the precautions nothing was ever one hundred percent safe.

"I want you to promise that you'll look after them, just as you will Michael and Morgan."

He couldn't hold back the frown of shock, and evidently it amused Alexis because she smiled. "Oh, I might not like the way you live your life Jason, but I know that you're good at what you do. You love Michael and Morgan," she nodded, "I've seen how much you protect the people you love. I know you have no reason to feel that way toward Kristina and Molly and I certainly have never given you any reason to do what I'm asking, but I know if you promise to protect them, you will."

"I'll protect Kristina because she's Sonny's daughter, but Molly has no connection to Sonny, why would you think she would be in danger?"

"She's Kristina's sister, Sonny's niece." And he could see the acknowledgement in her eyes, "Like it or not, my life and my children's lives will be forever connected to Sonny's. If I die," she broke off as her eyes brimmed briefly with tears. One spilled over onto her cheek that she hurriedly brushed away, as if she could brush away the unaccustomed sign of weakness, "If I die, I need your word that you'll protect them, the same you will Michael and Morgan."

"You'll trust me with that but nothing else."

"I trust you'll keep your word. My wants or feelings don't matter. If I'm not here to protect my girls myself, I want to know that Sonny has the best person possible to do it."

"And what does Ric think? Shouldn't he have some say in this?" Ric would shit a fit if he could hear what Alexis was asking of him. The man hated him with an obsession that bordered on insanity. Jason couldn't honestly say that he didn't feel the same about Ric.

"I think we both know what he would say." She shook her head, "Well, Jason?"

He might have no love for Alexis but he could understand her desire to make sure her children would be safe, "I promise I'll protect Kristina and Molly just the same as I would protect Michael and Morgan."

Her face crumbled for a moment, shoulders slumped as if she had used the last of her strength in making this request. "Thank you."

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"Jason what are you doing here?"

He glanced up from the paper work Edward had left with him, to see Emily enter the den of the Quartermaine mansion. He had tried to come over when he figured everyone would be out of the house. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to know what he was up to. Or that he was conspiring with Edward.

Rather than lie, he said nothing, just closed the folder he was glancing through and sat back in his chair. Other than her initial surprise that he was here unexpectedly, Emily seemed preoccupied with something so she didn't notice that he hadn't answered her question. "Is something wrong?"

"No," she denied, then frowned, "Yes. I don't know." She looked down at her fingers that were fidgeting, then tilted her head to the side, "Liz left town and no one seems to know why."

How he kept his face blank of emotion, he would never know. The very thought Elizabeth had the power to shake him to his core.

His Baby. Elizabeth was having his baby.

"Lucky didn't say anything," Emily continued on, "He went to Nikolas a few days ago and asked him to find him a clinic where he could check himself in for his addiction. Evidently he lapsed again," she sighed heavily, "And Nikolas thinks that is the reason Liz left town."

"What did Lucky say about it?" His voice was calm despite the flush of rage that poured through his body. The note Elizabeth wrote him said that they had an argument, that harsh words were spoken, but Jason knew that Elizabeth wouldn't hesitate to protect Lucky or make excuses for his actions, blaming them on his drug problem. If that bastard had said or done anything to hurt her, there wasn't a clinic he could hide in that would protect him.

"Nothing actually," her face scrunched in confusion, "Which is surprising all things considered. He told Nikolas that he and Liz were getting a divorce, that he had a lapse and asked if Nikolas would find him a clinic that's all. It's like he's hiding something but neither of us can figure out what."

"Maybe you should just leave it be for now," he suggested knowing that if Emily and Nikolas got the idea they would rush off trying to find Elizabeth.

And that's what he was intending to do.

"Audrey said that Liz needed sometime alone to think, that she left a message that she was fine," she sat on the edge of the desk, "It's just not like Liz to run away from her problems."

"No it isn't," he admitted, but then, Elizabeth had never been faced with being married to one man who was a drug addict and pregnant by another who was a mob enforcer.

As much as he wanted to give her time, he couldn't. He needed to talk to her, to see her. The very idea of a baby was almost too much for him to wrap his mind around. The fear, the joy, was so big, that his heart refused to open to the possibility. Not until he talked to Elizabeth first. He gave her ten days before he asked Stan to find the cottage she was talking about. It only took thirty minutes before Stan was calling back with the address and location.

When he asked Sonny for some time, Sonny had been hesitant at first, Jason figured it was because he was still settling into running the organization again. For the first time he had pushed, accepting no less than yes. Things here in Port Charles were settled for the time being, if there were any problems, sonny could always call his cell. It wasn't like he was leaving the country, he was only driving six hours away.

At some point he knew he was going to have to tell Sonny everything. Carly. Sam, he thought with a small groan, remembering how desperately she had wanted a child of her own. Their child. Though she knew he and Elizabeth had slept together, he knew that knowledge still hurt her. It would be even more painful to discover that he and Elizabeth would have a child together. All he seemed to do lately is hurt Sam. This would be no different.

Edward had fussed, until Jason reassured him that he didn't need to be in Port Charles to work on their problem. He would take the files, and his laptop with him and work from there. He would be back in plenty of time for the stockholders meeting the week before Christmas. It hadn't mattered if Edward approved or not.

Tonight after he left the mansion he was going to find Elizabeth.

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The door to the playroom swung open and she sighed in relief at the sight of her little boy sitting at the table with a young redhead putting together a puzzle. "Hi, I'm sorry I'm late," she crossed the bold multicolored carpet to place a kiss on her son's head. "Sudden tree house injury, broken arm needed setting."

"It's no problem at all Elizabeth, Cameron is a sweetheart."

Elizabeth smiled at Mariah, the sweet twenty one year old who worked in the daycare where Cameron attended. In the beginning, she hadn't wanted to put Cam back in daycare, but knew that he needed the stimulation and interaction of other children his age because he would be starting school soon. Days here in Brunswick were good, the pressures of her life in Port Charles seemed miles away. Though she missed her friends, Emily, Nikolas, she was glad she had come here. The first week she spent painting, enjoying the time with Cameron. Then Monday morning she had awakened at six and realized she missed her job.

At first being a nurse had been a means of making a living to provide for her son. She had underestimated how much she had come to enjoy her profession. Helping others, being a nurse was no longer just a job, it had become as much apart of her as her rediscovered painting was. She had gone to the medical office where her Ob/GYN was located and asked Dr. Allen if there were any openings in her office. Dr. Allen didn't have any openings but she knew that Dr. MacConnely, the pediatrician who shared the building with her was looking for a nurse and hadn't found one yet. Elizabeth had discussed her situation with Dr. MacConnely, Nicole, and the woman had been willing to take her for the short time, considering she really needed help. It would provide the opportunity to continue looking for help and hopefully by the time Elizabeth was ready to return to Port Charles, Nicole would have found a replacement.

The work was different than GH, the pace slower, but no less challenging considering she was working with children all day. The reason why she was late picking up Cam at daycare today, was the last minute visit from the mother of one of the Beck twins that Nicole warned her was typically in her office at least once a week for one injury or another.

"The only boys I know who have a tree house are the two terrors," Mariah laughed as she gathered Cam's bag from his cubby. "So which one this week." It was one thing Elizabeth liked about Brunswick, everyone knew each other. Small town, small town gossip. Everyone had been very welcoming, remembering her family from their summer visits. Her pregnancy was still a secret for the time being, but it wouldn't remain that way for long. Especially not with her unscheduled bathroom visits to pay homage to the toilet, ever since morning sickness had hit with a vengeance.

"Gavin," Elizabeth chuckled as well, as she remembered the two brothers solemn faces as Gavin's arm was cast. Then the glee in little Billy's eyes as he scribbled his name in black marker across the purple cover. "I didn't interfere with any plans you might have made did I?"

Mariah smiled and waved off her apology, "No, just going home, no plans at all. Hey, I have an idea, how about dinner tomorrow night. We can go to the Elephant Boy."

"No sitter," Elizabeth shrugged, though she would have loved the night out.

"Bring Cam along, it's a family restaurant, that's why I suggested it. Cam will get a kick out of the playroom, and maybe some of the other kids will be there, since it's Friday."

Why not? "Okay," she nodded, in agreement, "This time tomorrow?"

"Great," Mariah brushed a kiss over Cam's cheek then rubbed off the slight smear of pink gloss, "See you tomorrow Cammy."

"Bye," he waved with a smile, slipping his hand into hers.

She had been worried about how Cam would react to the new town, new people. Those months with Lucky had caused him to be more cautious with other people. Before they left, he had asked if Lucky would be coming with them, seemed nervous, which in turn made her feel guilty. She had been trying to do the right thing for her marriage, and almost hurt her son in the process. She was only grateful that she had left when she had.

The ride back to the house was quick, as Cam played in the back with his toys. By the time she pulled into the driveway she was more than ready for dinner. Her appetite had grown recently, and warred with the nausea, which made for very interesting meal times. Most evenings she was reduced to veggies and orange juice, with occasionally a piece of grilled chicken or fish. Just the smell of certain foods could trigger the nausea. AT least she was eating healthy.

Tonight, seemed to be a good evening, no nausea or lightheadedness despite the long day, "Hey how about spaghetti and meatballs tonight?"

"With Bwead," Cam asked from the back.

"Yes with bread," she laughed, emphasizing the proper pronunciation. "You can even help Mommy roll the meatballs, how about that?"

"'Kay," he bounced happily. "And Bwownies too?"

Just the thought of Brownies and how she used to make them for Lucky made her sad, but that was no reason to deprive her son of one of his favorite treats, "I think we have chocolate, so yes Brownies too," her voice quieted as she noted the strange truck sitting in the drive way. She took out her cell, after stopping the car, ready to dial for help if something should go wrong, then she noticed the man sitting on the front porch.

There was no way to mistake that face.

She got out, taking Cameron from his seat, closing the door, and they made their way to the confrontation waiting. Deep down, she hadn't expected him to wait until December, so it came as no surprise to find him waiting on her porch now.

"Hello Jason."